Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-03
THE cofToSy CUSHION SCALE.
The Necessity for Vigorous Action by
PUBLIC NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Etc.

The Necessity for Vigorous Action ny
Public acknowledgements, Etc.
1t is now time to make decided effort
to eradicate this pest from the northern
counties. where it is spreading slowly but
surely and in this matter there IS no city
so interested as the city of Sacramento, Tor
if once thoroughly established mere
amongst the gardens it can never be eradl-
Gated. But eradication cannot be accom-
plished without active cooperation oil all
persons having gardens and who nave the
future welfare of the city and country at
heart II must be remembered mat the
habits of this insect is different from any
other scale insect in this important respect
that the female has power OF moving ABOUT
until and even after maturity. The male
insect only is winged. The bugs are now
almost dormant, and no better time Tor
doing good work can be found IN TINS part
of the State Trees can now safely De
pruned back, thereby making 1t possible TO
wash large trees. In all instances two ap-
plications at least, with an interval
of two or three weeks, should
be used. the peculiar habit OF the
insect of creeping about must be distinctly
born in mind, so that il is watched Tor
constantly. The city ought to appropriate
a liberal sum of money to keep person
employed urging people to attend 10 TINS
nuisance, and keeping watch OF the infested
places all summer. There are now per-
haps in the city dozen infested places
nnless prevented from spreading from
these. it will be only a question OF time
when all the gardens of Sacramento will
become infested, when half Of the trees III
Capitol Park will have to be cut down.
This is not an overdrawn picture. lime
past furnishes abundant proof and exam
pie of such occurrences from more than one
county in the State, as well as countries
abroad 1t may be said that the cottony
scale is not formidable enemy to our
fruits. This may be true, but it is the very
worst TO the orange tribe; it favors most all
Australian trees, even the blue gum beng
attacked. Let the city employ competent
and an active man, and the sooner 1t Is
done the better.
am yours truly, W. q. hLEE,
Inspector Of Fruit Pests.
The following is copied from bulletin No
4. of remedies recommended for the de
struction of the cot5ony cushion scale
Icerya purchasii: >
For all deciduous trees such as the locust,
which is much subject 10 this pest, We
recommend one-fourtn of a pound of con-
centrated I've, one-fourth OF pound OF
vhale-oil soap to one gallon of water. Be
fore treating the tree, cut of the tops down
to the main branches and burn them. For
evergreens, the summer wash recon-
mended last summer is useful, and will not
hurt healthy foliage: Dissolve 80 pounds
of whale-oil soap $50 per cent. soap, at the
most costing five cents per pound), in 60
gallons of water, by heating the two to-
gether thoroughly. Boil three pounds of
I've (American concentrated I've is what we
have used) with six pounds of sulphur and
u couple of gallons of water. When thor
oughly dissolved it is dark brown liquid
chemically sulphide of soda.) Mix the
two, the soap and the sulphide of soda
well, and allow them to boil for about half
an hour, then add about 90 gallons of
water to the mixture, and it is ready for use.
Apply it warm, at about 1902 F., by means
of a spray pump. Used warm It's effect IS
better and less material is required than
when cold. 1t must, however, be iemem
bered that the minute scales are especially
numerous on the under side of leaves. This
fact makes the exttr mination urge tree
in full foliage almost next to impossible. |
ONLY small trees may be successfully |
treated in this way. Large trees must be !
either deprived of their foliage or cut down
to a few limbs. Neither of these methods |
can be safely applied on tender trees during !
a season when sharp frosts may be looked |
for A spraying should, however, be done, |
as it will check their spread most efectu |
ally. Too great pains cannot be taken IN |
removing infected limbs, as the insect !
spreads often IN this way. A canvas should !
be spread around the tree, so that none of |
the insects can escape. When the tree has
been treated, spread hot ashes around its
base and apply tight-fitting bands smeared |
with greasy substance around the trunk !
to prevent any insects reascending.